Inductively-coupled toroidal plasma source

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for dissociating gases includes a plasma chamber comprising a gas. A first transformer having a first magnetic core surrounds a first portion of the plasma chamber and has a first primary winding. A second transformer having a second magnetic core surrounds a second portion of the plasma chamber and has a second primary winding. A first solid state AC switching power supply including one or more switching semiconductor devices is coupled to a first voltage supply and has a first output that is coupled to the first primary winding. A second solid state AC switching power supply including one or more switching semiconductor devices is coupled to a second voltage supply and has a second output that is coupled to the second primary winding. The first solid state AC switching power supply drives a first AC current in the first primary winding. The second solid state AC switching power supply drives a second AC current in the second primary winding. The first AC current and the second AC current induce a combined AC potential inside the plasma chamber that directly forms a toroidal plasma that completes a secondary circuit of the transformer and that dissociates the gas.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a continuation-in-part of patent application Ser. No. 09/774,165, filed on Jan. 26, 2001, which is a continuation-in-part of patent application Ser. No. 09/659,881, filed on Sep. 12, 2000, which is a continuation of U.S. Pat. No. 6,150,628, filed on Jun. 26, 1997, the entire disclosures of which is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to the field of generating activated gas containing ions, free radicals, atoms and molecules and to apparatus for and methods of processing materials with activated gas.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Plasma discharges can be used to excite gases to produce activated gases containing ions, free radicals, atoms and molecules. Activated gases are used for numerous industrial and scientific applications including processing solid materials such as semiconductor wafers, powders, and other gases. The parameters of the plasma and the conditions of the exposure of the plasma to the material being processed vary widely depending on the application.

For example, some applications require the use of ions with low kinetic energy (i.e. a few electron volts) because the material being processed is sensitive to damage. Other applications, such as anisotropic etching or planarized dielectric deposition, require the use of ions with high kinetic energy. Still other applications, such as reactive ion beam etching, require precise control of the ion energy.

Some applications require direct exposure of the material being processed to a high density plasma. One such application is generating ion-activated chemical reactions. Other such applications include etching of and depositing material into high aspect ratio structures. Other applications require shielding the material being processed from the plasma because the material is sensitive to damage caused by ions or because the process has high selectivity requirements.

Plasmas can be generated in various ways including DC discharge, radio frequency (RF) discharge, and microwave discharge. DC discharges are achieved by applying a potential between two electrodes in a gas. RF discharges are achieved either by electrostatically or inductively coupling energy from a power supply into a plasma. Parallel plates are typically used for electrostatically coupling energy into a plasma. Induction coils are typically used for inducing current into the plasma. Microwave discharges are achieved by directly coupling microwave energy through a microwave-passing window into a discharge chamber containing a gas. Microwave discharges are advantageous because they can be used to support a wide range of discharge conditions, including highly ionized electron cyclotron resonant (ECR) plasmas.

RF discharges and DC discharges inherently produce high energy ions and, therefore, are often used to generate plasmas for applications where the material being processed is in direct contact with the plasma. Microwave discharges produce dense, low ion energy plasmas and, therefore, are often used to produce streams of activated gas for “downstream” processing. Microwave discharges are also useful for applications where it is desirable to generate ions at low energy and then accelerate the ions to the process surface with an applied potential.

However, microwave and inductively coupled plasma sources require expensive and complex power delivery systems. These plasma sources require precision RF or microwave power generators and complex matching networks to match the impedance of the generator to the plasma source. In addition, precision instrumentation is usually required to ascertain and control the actual power reaching the plasma.

RF inductively coupled plasmas are particularly useful for generating large area plasmas for such applications as semiconductor wafer processing. However, prior art RF inductively coupled plasmas are not purely inductive because the drive currents are only weakly coupled to the plasma. Consequently, RF inductively coupled plasmas are inefficient and require the use of high voltages on the drive coils. The high voltages produce high electrostatic fields that cause high energy ion bombardment of reactor surfaces. The ion bombardment deteriorates the reactor and can contaminate the process chamber and the material being processed. The ion bombardment can also cause damage to the material being processed.

Faraday shields have been used in inductively coupled plasma sources to contain the high electrostatic fields. However, because of the relatively weak coupling of the drive coil currents to the plasma, large eddy currents form in the shields resulting in substantial power dissipation. The cost, complexity, and reduced power efficiency make the use of Faraday shields unattractive.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The high power plasma source of the present invention includes multiple high permeability magnetic cores that surround the plasma chamber. In one embodiment, separate switching power supplies are coupled to the primary winding of each of the multiple high permeability magnetic cores. In another embodiment, a single power supply is coupled to the primary winding of each of the multiple high permeability magnetic cores.

In one embodiment, the plasma chamber includes imbedded cooling channels for passing a fluid that controls the temperature of the plasma chamber. In another embodiment, the plasma chamber is formed of quartz and is thermally bonded to a fluid cooled supporting structure. In another embodiment, the plasma chamber is formed of anodized aluminum and is thermally bonded to a fluid cooled supporting structure.

In one embodiment, the plasma chamber is formed of metal. Metal plasma chambers include multiple dielectric regions that prevent induced current flow from forming in the plasma chamber. In one embodiment, the metal plasma chamber is segmented with multiple dielectric gaps to reduce the potential difference between the plasma and the metal plasma chamber, thereby distributing the plasma loop voltage across multiple dielectric gaps. The segmented plasma chamber facilitates operating the plasma source at relatively high loop voltages, while reducing or eliminating the plasma channel surface erosion. In another embodiment, circuit elements are used to control the voltage distribution across the metal plasma chamber.

In one embodiment, the power supply of the high power source includes a voltage regulator circuit that provides a stable DC bus voltage that allows the user to precisely control the total power supplied to the plasma. In one embodiment, the high power toroidal plasma source of the present invention includes an apparatus for reliably igniting the plasma.

The high power toroidal plasma source of the present invention has numerous advantages. The high power plasma source generates a relatively high power plasma with higher operating voltages that has increased dissociation rates and that allow a wider operating pressure range. Also, the high power plasma source has precise process control. In addition, the high power plasma source has relatively low plasma chamber surface erosion.

Accordingly, the present invention features apparatus for dissociating gases that includes a plasma chamber comprising a gas. In one embodiment, the plasma chamber may comprises a portion of an outer surface of a process chamber. In one embodiment, the plasma chamber comprises a dielectric material. For example, the dielectric material may be quartz. The dielectric material may be thermally bonded to a supporting structure. The supporting structure may include cooling channels that transport cooling fluid.

In another embodiment, the plasma chamber is formed of an electrically conductive material and at least one dielectric region that forms an electrical discontinuity in the conductive material. The electrically conductive material may be aluminum and the aluminum may be anodized. The electrically conductive material may be segmented with at least two dielectric gaps. The dielectric gaps reduce the potential difference between the plasma and the metal plasma chamber, thereby distributing the plasma loop voltage across the at least two dielectric gaps. A voltage divider circuit may be electrically coupled across the at least two dielectric gaps to distribute the plasma loop voltage across the at least two dielectric gaps.

The apparatus includes a first and second transformer. The first transformer has a first magnetic core surrounding a first portion of the plasma chamber and has a first primary winding. The second transformer has a second magnetic core surrounds a second portion of the plasma chamber and has a second primary winding. The apparatus also includes first and second solid state AC switching power supply.

The first solid state AC switching power supply includes one or more switching semiconductor devices that is coupled to a first voltage supply and has a first output that is coupled to the first primary winding. The second solid state AC switching power supply includes one or more switching semiconductor devices that is coupled to a second voltage supply and has a second output that is coupled to the second primary winding. The voltage supplies may include a voltage regulator circuit.

The one or more switching semiconductor devices may be switching transistors. In one embodiment, the output of the one or more switching semiconductor devices is directly coupled to the primary winding. The solid state AC switching power supplies may be substantially identical. Also, the solid state AC switching power supplies may comprise a single power supply unit.

In operation, the first solid state AC switching power supply drives a first AC current in the first primary winding. The second solid state AC switching power supply drives a second AC current in the second primary winding. The first AC current and the second AC current induce a combined AC potential inside the plasma chamber that directly forms a toroidal plasma that completes a secondary circuit of the transformer and that dissociates the gas.

The apparatus includes an apparatus to assist in igniting the plasma. In one embodiment, an electrode is positioned in the plasma chamber that generates free charges that assist the ignition of the plasma in the plasma chamber. In another embodiment, the apparatus includes a secondary winding that resonates with the primary winding and raises the voltage in the plasma chamber to assist ignition of the plasma in the plasma chamber. In another embodiment, an ultraviolet light source is optically coupled to the plasma chamber. The ultraviolet light source generates free changes that assist the ignition of the plasma in the plasma chamber.

The present invention also features a method for dissociating gases. The method includes confining a gas in a plasma chamber at a pressure. A first and a second current are generated with a first and a second solid state AC switching power supply. The first and the second current induce a combined AC potential inside the plasma chamber by passing the first current though a first primary winding having a first magnetic core surrounding a first portion of the plasma chamber, and by passing the second current though a second primary winding having a second magnetic core surrounding a second portion of the plasma chamber. The combined induced AC potential directly forms a toroidal plasma that completes a secondary circuit of the transformer and dissociates the gas. The method may be used for cleaning process chambers.

The method may include regulating the current generated with the first and the second solid state AC switching power supply. The method may also include providing an initial ionization event in the plasma chamber. In addition, the method may include measuring electrical parameters of the primary and secondary and adjusting a magnitude of the current generated by the first and the second solid state AC switching power supply in response to the measured electrical parameters.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

This invention is described with particularity in the appended claims. The above and further advantages of this invention may be better understood by referring to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a toroidal low-field plasma source for producing activated gases that embodies the invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a plot of etch rate of thermal silicon dioxide as a function of NF3 feed gas flow rate, using the toroidal low-field plasma source that embodies the invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional representation of a metallic plasma chamber that may be used with the toroidal low-field plasma source described in connection with FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a schematic representation of a dielectric spacer suitable for the dielectric regions illustrated in FIG. 3 that prevent induced current flow from forming in the plasma chamber.

FIG. 5 is a schematic representation of a toroidal low-field ion beam source that embodies the invention and that is configured for high intensity ion beam processing.

FIG. 6 is a schematic block diagram of a solid state switching power supply that includes the one or more switching semiconductor devices of FIG. 1.

FIGS. 7a and b illustrate boost voltage regulator circuits that facilitate stable operation of the toroidal plasma source of the present invention.

FIGS. 8a-c illustrate apparatus for igniting a plasma in the toroidal plasma source of the present invention.

FIG. 9 illustrates a schematic cross-section of a high power toroidal low-field plasma for source for producing activated gases according to the present invention.

FIG. 10 illustrates a low-field toroidal plasma source according to the present invention that includes a segmented plasma chamber that has relatively low surface erosion.

FIG. 11a illustrates a side view of one embodiment of the low-field toroidal plasma source according to the present invention that includes a quartz plasma chamber and a metal supporting structure.

FIG. 11b illustrates a center cross section of the low-field toroidal plasma source according to the present invention that includes a quartz plasma chamber and a metal supporting structure.

FIG. 11c illustrates an off center cross section of the low-field toroidal plasma source according to the present invention that includes a quartz plasma chamber and a metal supporting structure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a toroidal low-field plasma source 10 for producing activated gases that embodies the invention. The source 10 includes a power transformer 12 that couples electromagnetic energy into a plasma 14. The power transformer 12 includes a high permeability magnetic core 16, a primary coil 18, and a plasma chamber 20 that contains the plasma 14, which allows the plasma 14 to form a secondary circuit of the transformer 12. The power transformer 12 can include additional magnetic cores and primary coils (not shown) that form additional secondary circuits.

One or more sides of the plasma chamber 20 are exposed to a process chamber 22 to allow charged particles and activated gases generated by the plasma 14 to be in direct contact with a material to be processed (not shown). A sample holder 23 may be positioned in the process chamber 22 to support the material to be processed. The material to be processed may be biased relative to the potential of the plasma.

The materials used in the internal surface of the plasma chamber 20 and the vacuum elements that connect the output of the plasma chamber 20 to the process chamber 22 must be carefully chosen, especially if the plasma source will be used to generate chemically reactive species. Materials are selected to meet several requirements. One requirement of the materials is that the creation of contamination that results from corrosion or deterioration of the material caused by interaction of the materials with the process gases should be minimized. Another requirement of the materials is that they have minimal erosion when exposed to process gases. Another requirement of the materials is that they should minimize recombination and deactivation of the reactive gas, thus maximizing reactant delivery to the process chamber.

Anodized aluminum has some advantages for semiconductor processing applications. One advantage is that anodized aluminum can be grown directly on an underlying aluminum base through an electroplating process. The resulting film has excellent adherence properties. Another advantage is that anodized aluminum has a thermal conductivity that is approximately 15 times greater than the thermal conductivity of quartz. Therefore, the inside surface of plasma chambers that are formed with anodized aluminum will remain relatively cool, even with significant incident power density.

Another advantage is that anodized aluminum is chemically inert to many atomic species (F, O, Cl, etc.) as long as there is no or only low-energy ion bombardment present. Anodized aluminum is particularly advantageous for fluorine chemistries because it has a low recombination coefficient for atomic fluorine. Also, anodized aluminum is a material that is commonly used and accepted for semiconductor materials processing applications.

Quartz also has some advantages for semiconductor processing applications. Quartz is available in extremely high purity and is commonly used and accepted in the semiconductor industry. Also, quartz is stable with numerous reactive species including O, H, N, Cl, and Br. In particular, quartz has a low surface recombination coefficient for atomic oxygen and hydrogen. Also, quartz has a low thermal coefficient of expansion and has relatively high resistance to thermal shock. In addition, quartz has a high softening and melting point and, therefore, it is relatively easy to form a process chamber from quartz.

Fluoropolymers also have some advantages for semiconductor processing applications. Examples of some fluoropolymers are PTFE, PFE, PFA, FEP, and Teflon™. The recombination rate for many fluoropolymers is relatively low. Fluoropolymers also are relatively inert to most atomic species including atomic fluorine and atomic oxygen. In addition, the purity of fluoropolymers is relatively high and fluoropolymers are available in both bulk form (tube, sheet, etc.) and in thin film form.

Fluoropolymers, however, can be eroded by ions in the plasma. Also, the maximum operating temperature that fluoropolymers can tolerate is significantly less than the maximum temperature that quartz can tolerate. In addition, the thermal conductivity of fluoropolymers is relatively low. Therefore, fluoropolymers are most useful for constructing the transport sections outside of the plasma chamber.

A voltage supply 24, which may be a line voltage supply or a bus voltage supply, is directly coupled to a switching circuit 26 containing one or more switching semiconductor devices. The one or more switching semiconductor devices may be switching transistors. The circuit may be a solid state switching power supply. An output 28 of the switching circuit 26 may be directly coupled to the primary winding 18 of the transformer 12.

The toroidal low field plasma source 10 may include an apparatus for generating free charges that provides an initial ionization event that ignites a plasma in the plasma chamber 20 as described herein. A noble gas, such as argon, may also be inserted into the plasma chamber 20 to reduce the voltage required to ignite a plasma. Free charges can be generated in numerous ways as described herein. For example, free charges can be generated by applying a short high voltage pulse to the inside of the plasma chamber 20 inside the plasma chamber 12. Also, free charges can be generated by applying a short high voltage pulse directly to the primary coil 18.

In another embodiment, an ultraviolet light source 34 is used to generate free charges that provide an initial ionization event, which ignites a plasma in the plasma chamber 20. The ultraviolet (UV) light source 34 is optically coupled to the plasma chamber 20. The UV light source 34 may be optically coupled to the plasma channel through an optically transparent window. The UV light source 34 may either be a continuous wave (CW) light source or a pulsed light source depending on the duty cycle of the plasma source.

The toroidal low field plasma source 10 may also include a measuring circuit 36 for measuring electrical parameters of the primary winding 18. Electrical parameters of the primary winding 18 include the current driving the primary winding 18, the voltage across the primary winding 18, the bus or line voltage that is generated by the voltage supply 24, the average power in the primary winding 18, and the peak power in the primary winding 18. The electric parameters of the primary winding may be continuously monitored.

The plasma source 10 may also include an apparatus for measuring electrical and optical parameters of the plasma 14 itself. For example, the source 10 may include a current probe 38 that is positioned around the plasma chamber 20 to measure the plasma current flowing in secondary of the transformer 12. Also, the voltage on the plasma secondary can be measured, for example, by positioning a secondary winding on the magnetic core parallel to the plasma 14. Alternatively, the electric power applied to the plasma may be determined from measurements of the AC line voltage and current and from known losses in the electric circuit.

The plasma source 10 may also include an optical detector 40 for measuring the optical emission from the plasma 14. The electric and optical parameters of the plasma 14 may be continuously monitored. In addition, the plasma source 10 may include a power control circuit 42 that accepts data from at least one of the current probe 38, the power detector 40, and the switching circuit 26 and then adjusts the power in the plasma by adjusting the current in the primary winding 18.

In operation, a gas is bled into the plasma chamber 20 until a pressure that is substantially between 1 mtorr and 100 torr is reached. The gas may comprise a noble gas, a reactive gas or a mixture of at least one noble gas and at least one reactive gas. The switching circuit 26 containing switching semiconductor devices that supply a current to the primary winding 18 that induces a potential inside the plasma chamber 20.

The magnitude of the induced potential depends on the magnetic field produced by the magnetic core 16 and the frequency at which the switching semiconductor devices operate according to Faraday's law of induction. An ionization event that forms the plasma may be initiated in the chamber 20. The ionization event may be the application of a voltage pulse to the primary winding or to the electrode 30 positioned in the chamber 20 as described herein. Alternatively, the ionization event may be exposing the inside of the plasma chamber 20 to ultraviolet radiation.

Once the gas is ionized, a plasma is formed in the plasma chamber 20 that completes a secondary circuit of the transformer 12. The shape of the plasma 14 can vary from circular to non-circular (oval, etc.). In one embodiment, the diameter of a circular plasma 14 may vary from approximately 0.5 to 2.0 inches depending upon the operating conditions. Changing the diameter of the plasma 14 changes the gas flow dynamics and the plasma impedance and allows the plasma source to be optimized for different operating ranges (i.e. different power levels, pressures ranges, gases, and gas flow rates).

Changing the shape of a non-circular plasma 14 allows the flow patterns for neutral species and flow patters of the plasma itself to be separately optimized for different operating regimes. In one embodiment, the ratio of the maximum to the minimum dimension may vary from about 1 (i.e. a circular cross section) to 10 depending upon the particular application.

The electric field of the plasma may be substantially between 1-100 V/cm. If only noble gases are present in the plasma chamber 20, the electric fields in the plasma 14 may be as low as 1 volt/cm. If, however, electronegative gases are present in the plasma chamber 20, then the electric fields in the plasma 14 are considerably higher. Operating the plasma source 10 with low electric fields in the plasma 14 is desirable because a low potential difference between the plasma 14 and the chamber 20 will substantially reduce erosion of the chamber 20 caused by energetic ions. This will substantially reduce the resulting contamination to the material being processed.

The power delivered to the plasma can be accurately controlled by a feedback loop 44 that comprises the power control circuit 42, the measuring circuit 36 for measuring electrical parameters of the primary winding 18 and the switching circuit 26 containing one or more switching semiconductor devices. In addition, the feedback loop 44 may include the current probe 38 and optical detector 40.

In one preferred embodiment, the power control circuit 42 measures the power in the plasma using the measuring circuit 36 for measuring electrical parameters of the primary winding 18. The power control circuit 42 compares the resulting measurement to a predetermined value representing a desired operating condition and then adjusts one or more parameters of the switching circuit 26 to control the power delivered to the plasma. The one or more parameters of switching circuit 26 include, for example, voltage and current amplitude, frequency, pulse width, and relative phase of the drive pulses to the one or more switching semiconductor devices.

In another preferred embodiment, the power control circuit 42 measures the power in the plasma using the current probe 38 or the optical detector 40. The power control circuit 42 then compares the measurement to a predetermined value representing a desired operating condition and then adjusts one or more parameters of the switching circuit 26 to control the power delivered to the plasma.

In one embodiment, the plasma source 10 may include protection circuits to ensure that the plasma source 10 is not damaged either through abnormal environmental conditions or through abnormal usage. The temperature of the plasma source 10 may be monitored at numerous locations to ensure that an appropriate amount of cooling fluid is flowing and that an abnormally high amount of power is not being dissipated in the source. For example, the temperature of the mounting blocks for the switching devices, the plasma chamber 20 itself, and the magnetic core may be monitored. Also, the current flowing though the FET devices may be monitored. If the current exceeds predetermined values the plasma source 10 may be shut down, thereby protecting the switching devices against possible damage.

The plasma source 10 is advantageous because its conversion efficiency of line power into power absorbed by the plasma is very high compared with prior art plasma sources. This is because the switching circuit 26 containing one or more switching semiconductor devices that supplies the current to the primary winding 18 is highly efficient. The conversion efficiency may be substantially greater than 90%. The plasma source 10 is also advantageous because it does not require the use of conventional impedance matching networks or conventional RF power generators. This greatly reduces the cost and increases the reliability of the plasma source.

In addition, the plasma source 10 is advantageous because it operates with low electric fields in the plasma chamber 20. Low electric fields are desirable because a low potential difference between the plasma and the chamber will substantially reduce energetic ion bombardment within the plasma chamber 20. Reducing energetic ion bombardment in the plasma chamber 20 is desirable because it minimizes the production of contaminating materials within the plasma chamber 20, especially when chemically reactive gases are used. For example, when fluorine based gases, such as NF3 and CF4/02, are used in a plasma source 10 of the present invention having a plasma chamber formed from a fluorine resistant material, no or minimal erosion of the chamber was observed after extended exposure to the low ion temperature fluorine plasma.

The plasma source 10 is useful for processing numerous materials, such as solid surfaces, powders, and gases. The plasma source 10 is particularly useful for cleaning process chambers in semiconductor processing equipment, such as thin film deposition and etching systems. The plasma source 10 is also particularly useful for providing an ion source for ion implantation and ion milling systems.

In addition, the plasma source 10 is particularly useful for generating activated gas for semiconductor processing. The plasma source can be used to etch numerous materials, such as silicon, silicon dioxide, silicon nitride, aluminum, molybdenum, tungsten and organic materials like photoresists, polyimades and other polymeric materials. The plasma source 10 can be used for plasma enhanced deposition of numerous thin films materials, such as diamond films, silicon dioxide, silicon nitride, and aluminum nitride.

In addition, the plasma source 10 can be used to generate reactive gases, such as atomic fluorine, atomic chlorine, atomic hydrogen, atomic bromine, and atomic oxygen. Such reactive gases are useful for reducing, converting, stabilizing or passivating various oxides, such as silicon dioxide, tin oxide, zinc oxide and indium-tin oxide. Specific applications include fluxless soldering, removal of silicon dioxide from a silicon surface, passivation of silicon surfaces prior to wafer processing, and surface cleaning of various metal and dielectric materials such as copper, silicon, and silicon oxides

Other applications of the plasma source 10 include modification of surface properties of polymers, metals, ceramics and papers. Also, the plasma source 10 may be used for abatement of environmentally hazardous gases including fluorine containing compounds, such as CF4, NF3, C2F6, CHF3, SF6, and organic compounds such as dioxins and furans and other volatile organic compounds. In addition, the plasma source 10 may be used to generate high fluxes of atomic oxygen, atomic chlorine, or atomic fluorine for sterilization. Also, the plasma source 10 may be used to create an atmospheric pressure torch.

The plasma current and plasma current density of the plasma 14 generated by the plasma source 10 may be selected to optimize dissociation of particularly gases for particular applications. For example, the plasma current and plasma current density can be selected to optimize NF3 dissociation. NF3 is widely used as a source of fluorine for chamber cleaning and numerous other applications. NF3 is relatively expensive. Optimizing the plasma source 10 for high NF3 dissociation rates improves the gas utilization rate and reduces the overall cost of operating the system. In addition, increasing the dissociation rate of NF3 is desirable because it reduces the release of environmentally hazardous gases into the atmosphere.

The dissociation of NF3 is mostly caused by collisions between the NF3 molecules and the electrons in the plasma. The density of electrons in the plasma source is approximately proportional to the plasma current density. There exists an optimal range of plasma current densities that maximize the dissociating of NF3 molecules. In one embodiment, a toroidal plasma 14 having a length of approximately 40-60 cm, the optimal plasma current density for efficiently dissociating NF3 gas is between 5-20 A/cm². In one embodiment, a toroidal plasma 14 having a cross sectional area of 3-10 cm², this current density range corresponds to a total toroidal plasma current in the range of approximately 20-200 A.

FIG. 2 illustrates a plot of etch rate of thermal silicon dioxide as a function of NF3 feed gas flow rates using the toroidal low-field plasma source 10 that embodies the invention. The toroidal low-field plasma source 10 was configured as a downstream atomic fluorine source. The power was approximately 3.5 kW.

FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional representation of a metallic plasma chamber 100 that may be used with the toroidal low-field plasma source described in connection with FIG. 1. The plasma chamber 100 is formed from a metal such as aluminum, copper, nickel and steel. The plasma chamber 100 may also be formed from a coated metal such as anodized aluminum or nickel plated aluminum. The plasma chamber 100 includes imbedded cooling channels 102 for passing a fluid that controls the temperature of the plasma chamber 100.

As shown, a first 104 and a second high permeability magnetic core 106 surround the plasma chamber 100. The magnetic cores 104, 106 are part of the transformer 12 of FIG. 1. As described in connection with FIG. 1, each of the first 104 and the second core 106 induce a potential inside the chamber that forms a plasma which completes a secondary circuit of the transformer 12. Only one magnetic core is required to operate the toroidal low-field plasma source.

Applicants have discovered that an inductively-driven toroidal low-field plasma source can be made with a metallic plasma chamber. Prior art inductively coupled plasma sources use plasma chambers formed from dielectric material so as to prevent induced current flow from forming in the plasma chamber itself. The plasma chamber 100 of this invention includes at least one dielectric region that electrically isolates a portion of the plasma chamber 100 so that electrical continuity through the plasma chamber 100 is broken. The electrical isolation prevents induced current flow from forming in the plasma chamber itself.

The plasma chamber 100 includes a first 108 and a second dielectric region 110 that prevents induced current flow from forming in the plasma chamber 100. The dielectric regions 108, 110 electrically isolate the plasma chamber 100 into a first 112 and a second region 114. Each of the first 112 and the second region 114 is joined with a high vacuum seal to the dielectric regions 108, 110 to form the plasma chamber 100. The high vacuum seal may be comprised of an elastomer seal or may be formed by a permanent seal such as a brazed joint. In order to reduce contamination, the dielectric regions 108, 110 may be protected from the plasma. The dielectric regions 108, 110 may comprise a dielectric spacer separating mating surface 116 of the plasma chamber 100, or may be a dielectric coating on the mating surface 116.

In operation, a feed gas flows into an inlet 118. As described in connection with FIG. 1, each of the first 104 and the second magnetic core 106 induce a potential inside the plasma chamber 100 that forms a plasma which completes a secondary circuit of the transformer 12. Note that only one magnetic core is required to operate the toroidal low-field plasma source.

The use of metal or coated metal chambers in toroidal low-field plasma sources is advantageous because some metals are more highly resistant to certain chemicals commonly used in plasma processing, such as fluorine based gases. In addition, metal or coated metal chambers may have much higher thermal conductivity at much higher temperatures than dielectric chambers and, therefore, can generate much higher power plasmas. For example, anodized aluminum is particularly advantageous for some semiconductor processing applications as described herein.

FIG. 4 is a schematic representation of a dielectric spacer 150 suitable for the dielectric regions illustrated in FIG. 3 that prevent induced current flow from forming in the plasma chamber. In this embodiment, a high vacuum seal 152 is formed outside the dielectric spacer 150. The dielectric region is protected from the plasma by protruded chamber wall 100.

FIG. 5 is a schematic representation of an ion beam source 200 including a toroidal low-field plasma generator that embodies the invention. The ion beam source 200 may be used for numerous ion beam processing applications including ion milling and ion implantation. The ion beam source 200 includes toroidal low field plasma source 202 comprising the metallic plasma chamber 100 described in connection with FIG. 3. The plasma chamber 100 includes a slit 204 for extracting ions generated by the plasma out of the chamber 100. Accelerating electrodes 206 accelerate the ions passing out of the chamber 100 with a predetermined electric field thereby forming an ion beam where the ions have a predetermined energy.

A mass-separating magnet 208 may be positioned in the path of the accelerated ions to select a desired ion species. A second set of accelerating electrodes may be used to accelerate the desired ion species to a predetermined high energy. An ion lens may be used to focus the high energy ion beam. A vertical 212 and a horizontal axis scanner 214 may be used to scan the ion beam across a sample 216. A deflector 218 may be used to separate the ion beam from any neutral particles so that the ion beam impacts the sample 216 and the neutral particles impact a neutral trap 220.

FIG. 6 is a schematic block diagram of a solid state switching power supply 250 that includes the one or more switching semiconductor devices of FIG. 1. Applicants have discovered that switching semiconductor devices can be used to drive the primary winding of a power transformer that couples electromagnetic energy to a plasma so as to form a secondary circuit of the transformer.

The use of a switching power supply in toroidal low-field plasma source is advantageous because switching power supplies are much less expensive and are physically much smaller in volume and lighter in weight than the prior art RF and microwave power supplies used to power plasma sources. This is because switching power supplies do not require a line isolation circuit or an impedance matching network. Switching power supplies are also highly efficient.

The present invention can use any type of switching power supply configuration to drive current in the primary winding 18 (FIG. 1). For example, the switching power supply 250 may include a filter 252 and a rectifier circuit 254 that is coupled to a line voltage supply 256. An output 258 of the filter 252 and the rectifier circuit 254 produces a DC voltage that is typically several hundred volts. The output 258 is coupled to a current mode control circuit 260.

The current mode control circuit 260 is coupled to a first 262, 262 a and a second isolation driver 264, 264 a. The first 262, 262 a and the second isolation driver 264, 264 a drives a first 266 and a second pair of switching transistors 268. The switching transistors may be IGBT or FET devices. The output of the first 266 and the second pair of switching transistors 268 may have numerous waveforms including a sinusoidal waveform. The frequency of the waveforms depends upon the properties of the transformer. The output of the switching transistors is coupled by the primary winding and magnetic core 269 to the toroidal plasma 270, which forms the transformer secondary.

The current mode control circuit 260 may include a control circuit that receives a signal from the power control circuit 42 (FIG. 1) that is characterized by the electrical parameters of the primary winding 18 or optical properties of the plasma 14. The control circuit controls the duty cycle of the output waveform. In one embodiment, the control circuit averages the output waveform over a few switching cycles to eliminate noise and other fluctuations.

During plasma ignition abrupt changes in the output waveform may occur. Abrupt change usually occur when one or more resonant components are added or removed from the output circuit as described herein, thereby changing the circuit characteristic instantly. Abrupt changes may also occur when the plasma ignites or during circuit transition from the ignition mode to normal operation mode.

Control circuits that are optimized for normal operation may malfunction during such abrupt change. In one embodiment, the control circuit disables the power control circuit 42 (FIG. 1) and instructs the current mode control circuit 260 to produce signals that cause the switching transistors 266, 268 to generate an output waveform having a predetermined duty cycle during one or more phases of ignition. The predetermined duty cycles are selected so that the current through the switching transistors 266, 268 is sufficient, but never exceeds the current limit for that particular phase of ignition.

In one embodiment, the electric power generated by the solid state switching power supply 250 and applied to the primary winding is highly regulated. Many material processing applications, such as deposition, etching and photoresist removal require precise process control. Precise process control can be achieved by precisely controlling the density of the plasma and, therefore, the amount of chemical reactants in the process gas. The density of the plasma is proportional to the toroidal current flowing in the plasma. The toroidal current flowing in the plasma is nearly identical to the driving current in the primary winding because the magnetizing impedance of the transformer is usually much higher than the plasma impedance. In some embodiments, the flow rate and composition of the process gas is also highly regulated.

FIGS. 7a and b illustrate boost voltage regulator circuits 300, 300′ that facilitate stable operation of the toroidal plasma source of the present invention. Variations in AC line voltage and frequency could alter the operating characteristics of the plasma source 10. The voltage regulator circuits 300 generate a stable DC bus voltage that is independent of the AC line voltage and frequency. The general operation of the two circuits is similar.

The boost voltage regulator circuits 300, 300′ receive an unregulated DC voltage at an input 302, 302′. The unregulated DC voltage can be generated by rectifying the AC line voltage. A switching transistor 304, 304′ is used to drive a current through an inductor 306, 306′. A high frequency driver circuit 308, 308′ is coupled to the gate 310, 310′ of the switching transistor 304, 304′. The driver circuit 308, 308′ generates a control signal that controls the operation of the switching transistor 304, 304′. When the driver circuit 308, 308′ drives the switching transistor 304, 304′ to a conducting state, current passes through the switching transistor 304, 304′ and the inductor 306, 306′. When the driver circuit 308, 308′ drives the transistor 304, 304′ to a non-conducting state, current that is flowing in the inductor 306, 306′ continues to flow in the same direction. The current flows though a diode 312, 312′ and charges a capacitor 314, 314′.

The voltage across the capacitor 314, 314′ provides a stable DC bus voltage that has an amplitude that is greater than or equal the amplitude of the AC line voltage. The control signal generated by the driver circuit 308, 308′ adjusts the duty cycle of the switching transistor 304, 304′ to provide a stable DC bus voltage. The driver circuit 308, 308′ drives the switching transistor 304, 304′ at a frequency of approximately 20 kHz-2 MHz. The high frequency switching transistor 304, 304′ reduces the amount of energy that needs to be stored during each switching cycle. This reduces the size and the cost of the regulator.

Numerous other voltage regulation circuits may also be used. For example, a buck regulator can be used to provide a regulated voltage at or below the normal AC voltage value. Regulating the bus voltage has several advantages. One advantage is that regulating the bus voltage provides stable operation independent of AC line voltage and frequency variations. This is important because power in some areas of the world is unreliable. The voltage regulation circuit may also be used to control and adjust the DC bus voltage to the switching power supply. This allows the user to control the voltage and power supplied to the plasma. It also allows the user to match the changing plasma impedance conditions by varying the DC voltage to the switching power supply. Thus, regulating the bus voltage extends the operating range of the plasma source and allows more control over the process.

FIGS. 8a-c illustrate apparatus for igniting a plasma in the toroidal plasma source of the present invention. FIG. 8a illustrates a plasma source 350 that includes an electrode 352 for igniting the plasma that is positioned in the plasma chamber 20. The electrode 352 generates free charges that provide an initial ionization event, which ignites a plasma in the plasma chamber 20.

The selection of the electrode material will depend on specific applications. The electrode 352 may be formed of a metal, a coated metal, or a metal covered with a dielectric. One advantage of metal electrodes is that they may have lower breakdown voltages compared with dielectric-covered electrodes. Thus for a given applied voltage, ignition can be generally be achieved more easily and more reliably with bare metal electrodes. However, dielectric-covered electrodes are advantageous because many dielectrics are relatively chemically inert. This makes dielectric-covered electrodes more suitable for applications involving corrosive gases.

A high-voltage source 354 is electrically coupled to the electrode 352. In one embodiment, the high-voltage source 354 generates a short, high voltage electric pulse that is applied to the electrode 352. The high voltage electric pulse may have a voltage that is substantially between 1-10 kV. A lower DC voltage that is substantially between 100-1000 V may also be applied to the electrode 352 across a high resistance resistor.

The DC bias voltage that is applied to the electrode 352 collects electric charges generated by the background radiation during idle time. The magnitude of the voltage is selected so that it does not directly cause a gas breakdown. Rather the magnitude is selected so that the electrode 352 collects charge that facilitates gas breakdown when the high voltage electric pulses arrive.

In another embodiment, one or more rectifying diodes may be connected to the output 356 of the high voltage source 354. The rectifying diodes cause the electrode 352 to be energized for a time duration that is longer than the duration of electric pulse itself. This is because the diodes prevent the electrode 352 from being discharged after the high voltage pulse is terminated.

In a further embodiment, the high-voltage source 354 generates a CW RF voltage that is applied to the electrode 352. The CW RF voltage generates free charges that provide an initial ionization event, which ignites a plasma in the plasma chamber 20. The amplitude of the CW RF voltage may be between 1-10 kV. Appling a CW RF voltage to the electrode 352 is advantageous because it has a higher duty cycle compared with discrete electric pulses and, therefore, increases the probability of gas breakdown in operating conditions where it is difficult to ignite the plasma.

In yet another embodiment, a short, high voltage electric pulse is applied directly to the primary coil 358 to generate free charges that provide an initial ionization event, which ignites a plasma in the plasma chamber 20. A resonant circuit is used to increase the induced voltage in the plasma to approximately 1-10 times above the normal operation voltage. The resonant circuit may include one or more capacitors 360, which forms a LC circuit with the transformer at the switching frequency of the switching circuit 26.

The resonant circuit outputs a high resonance voltage on the primary winding 358 of the plasma source. After the plasma is ignited, the resonance capacitor 360 is removed from the primary circuit by bypassing it with an electric switch 362, bringing the voltage on the primary winding 358 back to the power voltage generated by the switching circuit 26.

FIG. 8b illustrates a plasma source 370 that includes a primary winding 358, an inductor 374 and a capacitor 372 which forms a resonating circuit to ignite a plasma in the plasma chamber 20. The resonant capacitor 372 is connected in a secondary circuit parallel to the plasma secondary on the transformer core. The capacitance is selected so that it is in resonance with a resonant inductor 374 and the magnetizing inductance M of the transformer at the frequency of the switching circuit 26.

In operation, before plasma is ignited, the impedance of the plasma is high, resulting in a high Q circuit that raises the voltage on the primary winding 358 of the transformer. After plasma ignition, the plasma impedance drops, damping the LC resonance circuit, thereby lowering the resonance voltage. With a finite plasma resistance R, the electric current flowing through the plasma in this circuit is determined by V/Z_(L), the ratio of the switching circuit voltage and the impedance of the resonant inductance 374 at the switching frequency of the switching circuit 26. This current is independent of the plasma impedance R, making the plasma device a constant-current plasma source.

FIG. 8c illustrates a plasma source 380 that includes an electrode 382 that is electrically coupled to the plasma chamber 20. The electrode 382 is used to generate free charges that provide an initial ionization event, which ignites a plasma in the plasma chamber 20. The switching circuit 26 generates a CW RF voltage that is applied to the electrode 382.

A resonant capacitor 384 and an RF step-up transformer 386 are connected in series with the primary winding 358 of the transformer. During ignition, a bypass switch 388 is connected across the resonance capacitor 384 and is in the open position, thereby allowing the resonance capacitor 384 and the primary winding 358 to resonant at the frequency of the switching circuit 26. The step-up RF transformer 386 picks up the resonance voltage from the resonance capacitor 384, and applies a high RF voltage to the electrode 386.

A current-limiting capacitor may be connected between the electrode 382 and the step-up transformer 386 to limit the amount of power delivered to the electrode 382. A DC bias voltage may be applied to the electrode 382 through a resistor. The DC bias voltage collects some electric charge at the electrode 382, thereby assisting the gas breakdown when the RF high voltage arrives. After the plasma is ignited, the bypass switch 388 is closed to remove the resonant capacitor 384 and the step-up RF transformer 386 from the circuit.

The plasma source may also include a monitor and control circuit 390 for monitoring and controlling the ignition process. In one embodiment, the monitor and control circuit 390 first detects ignition of the plasma and then terminates the ignition sequence and switches the switching circuit 26 to a normal operation mode.

In another embodiment, the monitor and control circuit 390 monitors the ignition process at fixed, preset time intervals. The time interval may be a fraction of the typical ignition time. At the end of each time interval, the monitor and control circuit 390 measures the plasma light or the electric characteristics of the primary winding to determine if a plasma has been ignited. If a plasma ignition is detected, the monitor and control circuit 390 terminates the ignition process and returns the switching circuit 26 to a normal operation mode. If no plasma is detected, the monitor and control circuit 390 continues the ignition process into the next time interval. A fault is generated if no plasma is generated in the entire time duration allocated to the ignition process.

FIG. 9 illustrates a schematic cross-section of a high power toroidal low-field plasma source 400 for producing activated gases. The plasma chamber 402 is formed from a metal, as described in connection with FIG. 3. In other embodiments, the plasma chamber 402 can be formed of numerous dielectric materials, such as quartz. The plasma chamber 402 includes dielectric regions 404 that prevent induced current flow from forming in the plasma chamber 402, as described in connection with FIG. 3. In one embodiment, the plasma chamber 402 also includes cooling structures to remove heat from the plasma chamber 402. The cooling structure may be fluid-cooled metal heat sinks thermally bonded to the plasma chamber 402. The cooling structure can also be imbedded cooling channels for passing a fluid that controls the temperature of the plasma chamber 402.

The high power plasma source 400 includes a first 406 and a second high permeability magnetic core 408 that surround the plasma chamber 402. In other embodiments, any number of magnetic cores may be used according to the present invention. In one embodiment, a first 410 and a second switching power supply 412 are coupled to a first and a second primary winding, respectively. The first 410 and the second power supply 412 may be synchronized. A common clock can be used to synchronize the operation of the first 410 and the second power supply 412. In another embodiment, a single power supply is coupled to the primary winding of each of the two high permeability magnetic cores.

In operation, the first power supply 410 drives a first AC current in the first primary winding, and the second power supply 412 drives a second AC current in the second primary winding. The first and second AC currents induce a combined AC potential inside the plasma chamber 402 that forms a plasma which completes a secondary circuit of the transformer. The voltage applied to the plasma is a combination of the voltage applied by the first power supply 410 and the second power supply 412. The plasma itself functions as the combiner for the two RF power sources.

The high power plasma source 400 has numerous advantages. One advantage is that the plasma source 400 is capable of generating higher powers in comparison to a single power supply plasma source. There are numerous advantages to using higher powers. One advantage is that higher powers increase the dissociation rates and allows a wider operating pressure range. For example, a toroidal plasma source according to the present invention that includes a single power supply can dissociate approximately 2 slm (standard liters per minute) flow rate of NF3, over a useful range of operating pressures. For some applications, however, it is desirable to use higher flow rates of NF3 or higher operating pressures. For these applications, higher RF power and RF voltages are required.

There are several methods of increasing the RF power and the RF voltage generated by a single switching power supply. One method of increasing the RF power and the RF voltage is to use a higher DC bus voltage. Another method is to use an RF resonant circuit. Both of these methods require using a switching power supply that has a higher output voltage or the output current rating. However, the current and voltage limitations on currently available switching transistors limit the achievable output voltage and output current of the switching power supply. It is, therefore, desirable to use multiple transformers and multiple switching power supplies to increase the RF power and the RF voltage that is provided to the plasma of the plasma source of the present invention.

Another advantage of the high power plasma source 400 is that the multiple power supply design is a relatively cost effective way to increase the power generated by the plasma source. Manufacturers can design and manufacture one power supply module and use that module in numerous models of the plasma source. For example, manufactures can construct a basic plasma generator unit. Higher power plasma generator units can be manufactured by constructing a plasma source with multiple power supply modules. The power of the plasma approximately increases by a factor equal to the number of power supply modules.

Another advantage of the high power plasma source 400 is that no additional circuitry is required to combine the power generated by the multiple power supply modules. This feature improves reliability and reduces the cost to manufacture the unit.

The plasma source 400 may also be powered with a single power supply to generate higher electric voltages to the plasma in plasma chamber 402. The primary windings on the first 406 and second high permeability magnetic core 408 are connected in parallel to the switching power supply. The induced electric fields by these two magnetic cores are combined in the plasma channel, resulting in a voltage on the plasma that is twice the voltage of the switching power supply. In other embodiments, any number of magnetic cores and power supplies may be used to raise the voltage on the plasma according to the present invention.

The advantage of combining the voltage at plasma is that it allows applying a voltage on the plasma that is higher than the power supply voltage, even when the plasma is a single-turn secondary on the transformer.

FIG. 10 illustrates a low-field toroidal plasma source 450 according to the present invention that includes a segmented plasma chamber that has relatively low surface erosion. The presence of energetic ions in the plasma chamber causes erosion of the inner surface of the plasma chamber. The reactivity of the activated and ionized gases increases rapidly with their energy. This erosion can contaminate the process. Therefore, it is desirable to reduce the creation of energetic ions and atoms.

One advantage of the toroidal plasma source of the present invention is that relatively low electric fields can drive the plasma. Typical electric field intensity are under 10 V/cm. Consequently, the toroidal plasma source of the present invention generates plasmas with low ion energies. Therefore, the surface erosion due to ion bombardment even with highly corrosive gases is relatively low.

However, when the plasma source of the present invention includes a plasma chamber that is formed of metal or a coated-metal, electric fields are induced on the plasma chamber itself. The voltage induced on the metal plasma chamber body appears at the ends of the metal chamber body across the dielectric region 110 (FIG. 3). Thus, there is a concentration of electric fields across the dielectric regions.

The plasma secondary, on the other hand, is a continuous medium. There is no corresponding abrupt potential change along the toroidal plasma. This disparity in electric potential between the metal plasma chamber and the plasma secondary creates high surface electric fields between the plasma and the metal chamber. The high surface electric fields create energetic ions that may cause surface erosion. The threshold energy for ion sputtering for most commonly used materials is approximately between 20-60 eV. Sputtering damage to the plasma channel surface may become significant when the potential difference across one dielectric gap exceeds 50-100 V.

The plasma source 450 of FIG. 10 includes a plasma chamber 452 that is segmented with multiple dielectric gaps to reduce the potential disparity between the plasma and the metal plasma chamber. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 10, the plasma chamber 452 is segmented into four parts by four dielectric gaps 454 a, 454 b, 454 c and 454 d. The plasma chamber 452 includes a first 452 a, second 452 b, third 452 c, and fourth chamber 452 d that is segmented by a first 454 a, second 454 b, third 454 c and fourth dielectric gap 454 d. In other embodiment, the plasma chamber 452 is segmented in any number of chambers.

The plasma source 450 includes a transformer core for at least one of the plasma chamber segments. In one embodiment, the plasma source 450 includes a transformer core for each of the plasma chamber segments. Thus, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 10, the plasma source 450 includes a first 456 a, second 456 b, third 456 c, and fourth transformer core 456 d. The chambers 452 are grounded to an enclosure 458 in a way that there is one of dielectric gaps 454 a, 454 b, 454 c, 454 d in a grounded path that circulates one quadrant of the returning magnetic flux contained in transformer core 456 a, 456 b, 456 c or 456 d. The voltage on each dielectric gap 454 a, 454 b, 454 c, 454 d is then a quarter of the voltage on the toroidal plasma. In other embodiments, the plasma loop voltage is distributed across any number of dielectric gaps.

Thus, the segmented plasma chamber 452 distributes the induced electric field on the plasma chamber 452. The use of multiple dielectric gaps allows operating a plasma source at significantly higher loop voltages, while reducing or eliminating the plasma channel surface erosion. In one embodiment, the electric voltage across each of dielectric regions 454 a, 454 b, 454 c, 454 d is reduced to ˜100 V or lower. The distribution of loop voltage across multiple dielectric regions 454 a, 454 b, 454 c, 454 d has been shown to greatly reduce surface erosion.

In an alternative embodiment, circuit elements such as resistors and capacitors can be used as voltage dividers in the segmented plasma chamber 452. The use of circuit elements to control the voltage distribution has some advantages. One advantage of using circuit elements to control the voltage distribution, is that the voltage division across the dielectric gaps 454 a, 454 b, 454 c, 454 d can be controlled. Advantage of using circuit elements to control the voltage distribution is that the electric potential between the plasma and plasma chamber 452 can be minimized even if the dielectric gaps 454 a, 454 b, 454 c, 454 d are not evenly spaced.

FIG. 11a illustrates a side view of one embodiment of a low-field toroidal plasma source 500 according to the present invention that includes a quartz plasma chamber 502 and a metal supporting structure 504. FIG. 11b illustrates a center cross section of the low-field toroidal plasma source 500 according to the present invention that includes a quartz plasma chamber 502 and a metal supporting structure 504. The quartz plasma chamber 502 is formed in a toroidal geometry.

The quartz process chamber 502 is thermally bonded to a metal structure 504 that provides cooling and mechanical support. The metal support 504 includes at least one electric gap 506 that prevents induced current flow from forming in the plasma chamber. A high thermal conductivity bonding material 508 may be used to bond the quartz plasma chamber 502 to the metal structure 504. The bonding materials may have a low mechanical hardness to accommodate thermal mismatch between the quartz plasma chamber 502 and the support structure 504.

The plasma chamber 502 includes a gas inlet 510 and a gas outlet 512. In one embodiment, quartz flanges 514 are bonded to the quartz plasma chamber 502 near the gas inlet 510 and the gas outlet 512. Quartz flanges 514 are advantageous because in some applications o-ring seals cannot be used to directly seal the inlet and outlet tube. This is because quartz is not a good thermal conductor.

In some applications, a large amount of heat is carried by the process gas as it exits the plasma chamber 502 at the outlet 512. In these applications, the quartz tube at the outlet 512 of the plasma chamber 502 may experience temperatures that are too hot to use an o-ring to seal at the outlet 512. The bonded quartz flanges 514 move the vacuum seal surface away from the plasma chamber 502. One side of the quartz flange 514 is cooled through the thermal bonding material 508 and the metal structure 504. This provides a cooled surface for vacuum o-ring seal.

The plasma source 500 includes a high permeability magnetic core 516 that surrounds a portion of the plasma chamber 502. In other embodiments, at least two magnetic cores surround at least two portions of the plasma chamber 502. A primary coil surrounds the magnetic core 516. A circuit containing switching semiconductor devices supplies a current to the primary winding as described herein. The circuit induces a potential inside the plasma chamber 502 that couples electromagnetic energy to a plasma so as to form a secondary circuit of the transformer as described herein.

FIG. 11c illustrates an off center cross section of the low-field toroidal plasma source 500 according to the present invention that includes a quartz plasma chamber 502 and a metal supporting structure 504. The off center cross section illustrates the cooling channels 518 in the metal structure 504 that cool the quartz plasma chamber 502.

Equivalents

While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to specific embodiments, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus for dissociating gases, the apparatus comprising: a. a plasma chamber comprising a gas; b. a first transformer having a first magnetic core surrounding a first portion of the plasma chamber and having a first primary winding, and a second transformer having a second magnetic core surrounding a second portion of the plasma chamber and having a second primary winding; and c. a first solid state AC switching power supply comprising one or more switching semiconductor devices that are coupled to a first voltage supply and having a first output that is coupled to the first primary winding, and a second solid state AC switching power supply comprising one or more switching semiconductor devices that are coupled to a second voltage supply and having a second output that is coupled to the second primary winding, the first solid state AC switching power supply driving a first AC current in the first primary winding, and the second solid state AC switching power supply driving a second AC current in the second primary winding, the first AC current and the second AC current inducing a combined AC potential inside the plasma chamber that directly forms a toroidal plasma that completes a secondary circuit of the transformer and that dissociates the gas.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the one or more switching semiconductor devices comprises one or more switching transistors.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the output of the one or more switching semiconductor devices is directly coupled to the primary winding.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the plasma chamber comprises an electrically conductive material and at least one dielectric region that forms an electrical discontinuity in the conductive material.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the electrically conductive material comprises aluminum.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the aluminum is anodized.
 7. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the plasma chamber comprising the electrically conductive material is segmented with at least two dielectric gaps, the at least two dielectric gaps reducing the potential difference between the plasma and the metal plasma chamber, thereby distributing a plasma loop voltage across the at least two dielectric gaps.
 8. The apparatus of claim 4 further comprising a voltage divider circuit that is electrically coupled across the at least two dielectric gaps.
 9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the plasma chamber comprises a dielectric material.
 10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the dielectric material comprises quartz.
 11. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the plasma chamber comprising the dielectric material is thermally bonded to a metal supporting structure.
 12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the metal supporting structure comprises cooling channels that transport cooling fluid, the cooling fluid controlling the temperature of the plasma chamber.
 13. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first and the second solid state AC switching power supply are substantially identical.
 14. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first and the second solid state AC switching power supply comprise a single power supply unit.
 15. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first and the second voltage supply comprise a voltage regulator circuit, the first and the second voltage regulating circuit regulating a voltage generated by the first and the second voltage supply, respectively.
 16. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the plasma chamber comprises a portion of an outer surface of a process chamber.
 17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the plasma extends into the process chamber.
 18. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein a portion of the first and the second magnetic core are positioned within the process chamber.
 19. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an electrode positioned in the plasma chamber, the electrode generating free charges that assist the ignition of the plasma in the plasma chamber.
 20. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a secondary winding that resonates with the primary winding, the secondary winding raising the voltage in the plasma chamber to assist ignition of the plasma in the plasma chamber.
 21. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an ultraviolet light source that is optically coupled to the plasma chamber, the ultraviolet light source generating free changes that assist the ignition of the plasma in the plasma chamber.
 22. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a circuit for measuring electrical parameters associated with at least one of the first and the second primary winding and the plasma, the electrical parameters including at least one of a current driving the primary winding, a voltage across the primary winding, an average power in the primary winding, and a peak power in the primary winding.
 23. The apparatus of claim 22 further comprising a power control circuit having an input coupled to an output of the circuit for measuring electrical parameters associated with the at least one of the first and the second primary winding and the plasma and having an output coupled to a control input of the first and the second solid state AC switching power supply, the power control circuit controlling voltage and current supplied to the primary winding.
 24. A method for dissociating gases, the method comprising: a. confining a gas in a plasma chamber at a pressure; b. generating a first and a second current with a first and a second solid state AC switching power supply, respectively; and c. inducing a combined AC potential inside the plasma chamber by passing the first current though a first primary winding having a first magnetic core surrounding a first portion of the plasma chamber, and by passing the second current though a second primary winding having a second magnetic core surrounding a second portion of the plasma chamber, the combined induced AC potential directly forming a toroidal plasma that completes a secondary circuit of the transformer and dissociates the gas.
 25. The method of claim 24 further comprising regulating the current generated with the first and the second solid state AC switching power supply.
 26. The method of claim 24 further comprising providing an initial ionization event in the plasma chamber.
 27. The method of claim 26 wherein the providing an initial ionization event in the plasma chamber comprises applying a voltage pulse to at least one of the first and the second primary winding.
 28. The method of claim 26 wherein the providing an initial ionization event in the plasma chamber comprises exposing an inside of the plasma chamber to ultraviolet light.
 29. The method of claim 24 wherein the gas comprises at least one of a noble gas and a reactive gas.
 30. The method of claim 24 further comprising measuring electrical parameters including at least one of the current passing though the first and the second primary winding, a voltage across the first and the second primary winding, an average power in the first and the second primary winding, and a peak power in the first and the second primary winding.
 31. The method of claim 30 further comprising the step of adjusting a magnitude of the current generated by the first and the second solid state AC switching power supply in response to the measured electrical parameters.
 32. The method of claim 24 wherein the pressure is substantially between 1 mtorr and 100 torr.
 33. The method of claim 24 wherein an electric field of the plasma is substantially between 1-100 V/cm.
 34. A method for cleaning a process chamber, the method comprising: a. confining a gas in a plasma chamber comprising a portion of the outer surface of the process chamber; b. generating a first and a second current with a first and a second solid state AC switching power supply, respectively; c. inducing a combined AC potential inside the plasma chamber by passing the first current though a first primary winding having a first magnetic core surrounding a first portion of the plasma chamber, and by passing the second current though a second primary winding having a second magnetic core surrounding a second portion of the plasma chamber, the combined induced AC potential directly forming a toroidal plasma that completes a secondary circuit of the transformer and dissociates the gas; and d. directing the dissociated gas into the process chamber, thereby cleaning the process chamber.
 35. The method of claim 34 wherein the reactive gas comprises at least one of an oxygen and a fluorine containing gas.
 36. A method for reducing surface erosion in a reactive gas source, the method comprising: confining a gas in a plasma chamber comprising an electrically conductive material segmented into portions by multiple dielectric regions; providing one or more transformers each having a magnetic core surrounding a respective portion of the plasma chamber and having a primary winding; inducing an AC potential inside the plasma chamber by supplying an AC current generated by a solid state AC switching power supply, without requiring the use of an impedance matching network, to the primary winding of the one or more transformers, the induced AC potential forming a toroidal plasma inside the plasma chamber that completes a secondary circuit of the one or more transformers and dissociates the gas; and distributing a plasma loop voltage across multiple dielectric regions to reduce surface erosion in the plasma chamber.
 37. The method of claim 36 further comprising distributing the plasma loop voltage equally across each of the multiple dielectric regions.
 38. The method of claim 36 further comprising reducing the plasma loop voltage to about 100 volts or lower across each of the multiple dielectric regions.
 39. The method of claim 36 further comprising passing a fluid through cooling channels thermally bonded to the plasma chamber to control the temperature of the plasma chamber.
 40. The method of claim 36 wherein the AC switching power supply supplies the AC current to the primary winding without using the impedance matching network.
 41. The method of claim 36 wherein the AC switching power supply supplies the AC current to the primary winding without using a conventional impedance matching network.
 42. The method of claim 36 wherein the AC switching power supply comprises one or more switching transistors that supply the AC current to the primary winding without requiring the use of the conventional impedance matching network.
 43. The method of claim 36 further comprising protecting the dielectric region from the plasma by a protrusion in the plasma chamber.
 44. The method of claim 36 further comprising using a voltage divider circuit to control the distribution of the plasma loop voltage across multiple dielectric regions.
 45. A method for reducing surface erosion in a reactive gas source, the method comprising: confining a gas in a plasma chamber segmented into portions by multiple dielectric regions; providing a transformer having a magnetic core surrounding a portion of the plasma chamber and having a primary winding; inducing an AC potential inside the plasma chamber, by supplying an AC current generated by a solid state AC switching power supply to the primary winding of the transformer, that forms a toroidal plasma inside the plasma chamber that completes a secondary circuit of the transformer and dissociates the gas; and distributing a plasma loop voltage across multiple dielectric regions to reduce surface erosion in the plasma chamber.
 46. The method of claim 45 further comprising distributing the plasma loop voltage equally across each of the multiple dielectric regions.
 47. The method of claim 45 further comprising forming the plasma chamber using at least one of a metallic material and a coated metallic material.
 48. A method for reducing surface erosion in a reactive gas source, the method comprising: confining a gas in a plasma chamber segmented into portions by multiple dielectric regions; providing a plurality of transformers each having a magnetic core surrounding a respective portion of the plasma chamber and having a primary winding; inducing a combined AC potential inside the plasma chamber, by supplying an AC current generated by a solid state AC switching power supply to the primary windings of the transformers, the combined induced AC potential forming a toroidal plasma inside the plasma chamber that completes a secondary circuit of the transformer and dissociates the gas; and distributing a plasma loop voltage across multiple dielectric regions to reduce surface erosion in the plasma chamber.
 49. The method of claim 48 wherein the AC switching power supply supplies the AC current to the primary windings without requiring the use of an impedance matching network.
 50. The method of claim 49 wherein the AC switching power supply supplies the AC current to the primary windings without using an impedance matching network.
 51. The method of claim 50 wherein the AC switching power supply supplies the AC current to the primary windings without using a conventional impedance matching network.
 52. The method of claim 48 further comprising distributing the plasma loop voltage equally across each of the multiple dielectric regions.
 53. The method of claim 48 further comprising reducing the plasma loop voltage to about 100 volts or lower across each of the multiple dielectric regions.
 54. A reactive gas source for dissociating gases in a toroidal plasma comprising: a plasma chamber comprising multiple dielectric regions that segment the plasma chamber into portions; one or more transformers each having a magnetic core surrounding a respective portion of the plasma chamber and a primary winding; a gas inlet for providing a feed gas to the plasma chamber; and a solid state AC switching power supply comprising one or more switching transistors and supplying an AC current to the primary windings of the one or more transformers without requiring the use of an impedance matching network, the AC current in the primary windings inducing a combined AC potential inside the plasma chamber to form the toroidal plasma that completes a secondary circuit of the transformer and dissociates the feed gas, and means for distributing a plasma loop voltage in the plasma chamber across multiple dielectric regions to reduce surface erosion in the plasma chamber.
 55. The reactive gas source of claim 54 wherein the plasma chamber comprises at least one of a metallic material and a coated metallic material.
 56. A reactive gas source for dissociating gases in a toroidal plasma comprising: a plasma chamber comprising multiple dielectric regions that segment the plasma chamber into portions; one or more transformers each having a magnetic core surrounding a portion of the plasma chamber and a primary winding; a gas inlet for providing a feed gas to the plasma chamber; and a solid state AC switching power supply supplying an AC current to the primary windings of the one or more transformers, the AC current in the primary windings inducing a combined AC potential inside the plasma chamber to form the toroidal plasma that completes a secondary circuit of the transformer and dissociates the feed gas, wherein a plasma loop voltage in the plasma chamber is distributed across multiple dielectric regions to reduce surface erosion in the plasma chamber.
 57. The reactive gas source of claim 56 further comprising cooling channels thermally bonded to the plasma chamber for passing a fluid that controls the temperature of the plasma chamber.
 58. The reactive gas source of claim 56 wherein the AC switching power supply supplies the AC current to the primary windings without using an impedance matching network.
 59. The reactive gas source of claim 56 wherein the AC switching power supply supplies the AC current to the primary windings without using a conventional impedance matching network.
 60. The reactive gas source of claim 56 further comprising voltage divider circuit for controlling the distribution the plasma loop voltage across multiple dielectric regions.
 61. The reactive gas source of claim 56 wherein the dielectric regions comprise a dielectric spacer protected from the plasma by a protrusion in the plasma chamber.
 62. The reactive gas source of claim 56 wherein the plasma loop voltage is reduced to about 100 volts or lower across each of the multiple dielectric regions.
 63. The reactive gas source of claim 56 wherein the plasma loop voltage is distributed equally across each of the multiple dielectric regions.
 64. The reactive gas source of claim 56 wherein the plasma chamber comprises at least one of a metallic material and a coated metallic material. 